Football

H-K football traveled to CREC Co-op on Oct. 7 and lost a close 24-19 game. H-K was down at halftime, but took the lead in the fourth quarter with two consecutive touchdowns: an electrifying 50-yard run by Bryce Lacoss, and a 22-yard return of a blocked punt by Wyatt Solosky. Tyler Napierkowski also recorded an eight-yard touchdown run.

“We continue to make strides, but this was another example of us being so close yet so far,” said Head Coach Tyler Wilcox. “I liked the way we competed, coming back to take the lead after being down at half. But key mistakes hurt us, especially penalties.”

Girls’ Swimming and Diving

H-K girls’ swimming and diving traveled to Rocky Hill on Oct. 3 and beat the home team 112-70. Cougar girls took first and third in the opening 200-yard medley relay, and held the lead for the remainder of the meet. The team is now 3-0 for the season.

Senior Emma Sajus qualified for State Championships after winning the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 1:12:37, and junior Olivia “Liv” Macaluso bettered her qualifying times for State Championships in two events, winning the 200 individual medley in 2:34.50 and the 100 backstroke in 1:08.26. Twelve swimmers scored the winning points for H-K in Elsa Shatraw (freshman), Sajus, Gianna Dabkowski (freshman), Layla Hayward (senior), Maggie Miller (sophomore), Olive Forristall (freshman), Olivia Campo (junior), Macaluso, Peyton Tyler (senior), Sofia Campo (junior), Sophia Langer (freshman), and Veronica “VV” Pypa (junior).

Top 3 finishes for H-K included the 200-yard medley relay, in which Macaluso, Forristall, Sajus, and Dabkowski took first place. Following them in third place was Hayward, S. Campo, Shatraw, and Pypa.

In the 200 freestyle, first place was Miller and second was Tyler. In the 200 individual medley, Macaluso came in first and Forristall claimed third. Dabkowski won the 50 freestyle, with Hayward following in third place.

Sajus recorded the winning time in the 100 butterfly, while Miller took second. In the 100 freestyle, Dabkowski won the event and Tyler took second place. Shatraw also recorded a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Hayward, Tyler, Sajus, and Dabkowski finished in first, while second place was awarded to Forristall, O. Campo, S. Campo, and Miller.

Macaluso’s 100-yard backstroke time was good enough for first place in that event, and teammate Shatraw came in third. Forristall won the 100-yard breaststroke, and S. Campo took third place in the event. H-K shined in the 400-yard freestyle relay, with a first place finish from Miller, Sajus, Tyler, and Macaluso, and a third place finish from Shatraw, O. Campo, Langer, and Pypa.

Head Coach Alison Karam was very pleased with the efforts of the girls after the meet.

“This team is thrilling to watch,” said Karam. “The girls are working hard, and in every meet so far more than one swimmer has cranked out a personal best time in at least one event.”

Boys’ Soccer

On Oct. 2, H-K boys’ soccer hosted Morgan and lost 3-0. Then, on Oct. 5, the Cougars hosted Cromwell and won 1-0.

Girls’ Soccer

On Oct. 3, girls’ soccer opened the week at Morgan, where they lost 3-0. On Oct. 5, the team hosted Montville and grabbed a 4-3 win. The next day, the Cougars traveled to Cromwell and lost 2-0.

Field Hockey

The H-K field hockey team traveled to North Branford on Oct. 3 and lost 5-0. Three days later, Morgan came to town and the Cougars defeated the guests 6-0. H-K ended the week with the Alumni Game on Oct. 8.

Girls’ Volleyball

Girls’ volleyball traveled to Portland on Oct. 2 and won 3-0. Two days later, the team hit the road to Cromwell and grabbed a 3-0 win. On Oct. 6, the Cougars hosted Coginchaug and earned another 3-0 shutout victory.